Page 47 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Daddy, you’re so bad,” Annie chides him playfully. She pauses and her brows draw in when she notices another gift under the tree. “Did we miss someone?”

“Open it,” I tell her.

“You bought me a gift? How? When?” she asks.

Her dad smiles at me.

“I took the car to town. Your dad directed me,” I explain.

She rips off the red ribbon and opens the gold gift box. When she takes out the snow globe, her eyes turn round with surprise and awe. There is a barn with some cows and when you shake the globe, snow sprinkles over them. When she turns the little music knob it begins to play, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”

“Cade, this is so beautiful,” she gasps. Then she walks over to me and hugs me.

“It isn’t much but there weren’t too many stores open that late at night, and since you like Sally so much. . .” I murmur.

“It’s perfect,” she says, and she is so happy and sincere. “I love it.” She hugs the globe and gives it a shake. “It really does look like the farm.”

“On that note, you two have a skate to attend,” her dad says. “The boom box is in my office,” He winks at Annie.

“Boom box?” I ask with confusion.

“Old-style CD player. That doesn’t require a plug,” he explains.

“But you can just put the album on Spotify on your phone,” I reply.

“I’m old-fashioned, son. And a tradition is a tradition for a reason,” he replies.

Annie gets up with a bounce in her step and makes her way, I’m guessing, to her dad’s office.

“Cade, I’ll meet you at the front door,” she says.

“You two aren’t really together,” her father says to me and my stomach dips.

I must give him a deer in the headlights look.

“It’s fine. I know she was worried about facing Ford, and I appreciate you sticking up for her the way you did.”

“Um. . .sorry?”

“Don’t be,” he chuckles. “I think you and my daughter may have real feelings for each other. Ford didn’t treat my Annie right. I know that affected her on a deeper level. She’s guarded.”

“So am I,” I confess.

“That’s tough,” her dad says. “But just because someone hasn’t treated you right doesn’t mean everyone will be the same. I’ve been in a difficult situation for a long time, but I still believe in love. I still believe in soulmates.”

“I don’t know, sir, my mom just left my dad. I’m a bit of a cynic right now,” I confess awkwardly.

“Okay, you enjoy the skate. Don’t keep my Annie waiting.”

“Okay,” I agree. I turn to the guest room to collect my jacket and car keys. I head out to the car and grab my hockey bag since it has my skates in it. I also take my hockey stick in case I can get in some practice time on the ice. I’m used to doing a physical workout almost every day, but I haven’t had any exertion since coming here.

After heading out to my car, I meet Annie at the front door. She comes down the stairs in her jean sherpa jacket and she’s carrying her skates.

She leaves the skates and heads to the kitchen. A moment later she returns with a thermos and a bag. She doesn’t explain what she’s holding. She only says that it’s easier to get our skates on here and then head outside. I get my skates on and place the guards on them. I take my bag and stick outside with me.

“You know I can’t play hockey.” She laughs. She goes to pick up the CD player, but I take it from her and we head out to the pond, walking across the driveway down a patch of land until we reach the icy pond. I look around. Everything is so peaceful and white. It feels like a winter wonderland.

Annie turns on the music.

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